2 comments:

bruce
said...

Keating's opinions about Anzacs are among his more reasonable. Most people don't even know the significance of Anzac - that there our nation was forged in adversity - like Bolta they think it's 'just a disaster'. Keating reckons Kokoda was more important because there we were 'fighting for Australia'. Fair comment. The world is changing, many don't even think a nation should be built on efforts of a bunch of soldiers - too male chauvinistic and all.

I met an old guy 2 yrs ago who was a commando parachuted into Jap lines on Kokoda, killed 2000, 'first time the Japs had been beaten!' he said justifiably proudly.

Some say our history is all male: Cook, explorers, Anzacs etc. Women could choose between 'damned whores or God's police'.

I don't like Keating's style, or his moblike cheer squad, but he has a few interesting things to say at times - when his personal prejudices aren't involved.